"On what we've seen so far Pogacar is on top" - Tour de France legend Bernard Hinault enjoying the early GC battle

The third edition of the battle between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard for the Maillot Jaune at the Tour de France already looks like being one for the ages. One man who has certainly enjoyed it so far, is the legendary Bernard Hinault.

"These are two champions who have already shown that they exist and who put a volley as soon as they can do it, and that's great," said 'the Badger', a five-time former Tour de France winner in conversation with French outlet, Cyclism'Actu. "Since Pogacar arrived, he puts on a show for us every time. It's great, even when he lost last year, he still did a lot."

With four stages in the legs, Pogacar currently sits in second in the general classification, already 11 seconds ahead of his arch-rival, the Jumbo-Visma leader. With the Pyrenees making an early appearance on stage 5, Hinault believes Pogacar is well positioned. "On what we've seen so far, Pogacar is on top, he dominates his subject," he explains. "Now, it remains to be seen whether he will withstand the shock, since he has not raced since the end of April."

No French rider has won the Tour de France since Hinault in 1985. In terms of home hopes for the GC this year, David Gaudu is expected to be the biggest although Hinault is unimpressed. "So far David Gaudu hasn't shown us too much. There were times when he was slightly behind," he says. "Logically, if you're there for the win, you should have been there at least with Pogacar and Vingegaard and the Yates brothers. I hope it was just a bad moment and that he will prove to us in the Pyrenees that he really has his place."